Cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular diseases (or disorders) refers to the class of diseases that involve the heart and/or blood vessels (arteries and veins). While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system, it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis (arterial disease). These conditions have similar causes, mechanisms, and treatments.

Risk factors

There are many risk factors which predispose to various forms of cardiovascular disease. These include the following:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Age
• Diabetes mellitus
• Hypercholesterolemia (elevated cholesterol levels) and less than excellent lipoprotein particle profile (cholesterol subtypes)
• Tobacco smoking
• Higher fibrinogen and PAI-1 blood concentrations
• Elevated homocysteine, or even upper half of normal
• High blood pressure
• Obesity, especially central or male-type obesity; apart from being linked to diabetes, this form of obesity independently increases cardiovascular risk, presumedly by inducing an inflammatory and procoagulant state
• Genetic factors
• Physical inactivity
• Male sex
• Family history of cardiovascular disease

Although men have a higher rate of cardiovascular disease than women, it is also the number one health problem for women in industrialized countries. After menopause, the risk for women approaches that of men. Hormone replacement therapy alleviates a number of post-menopausal problems, but appears to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Related Topics:
Menopause - Hormone replacement therapy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~